Chasson Randle drives to the basket against Fullerton's Kwame Vaughn in the first period. The Stanford men's basketball team played the Fullerton Titans at Maples Pavilion in Stanford, Calif., on Monday, November 12, 2012.

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle

Chasson Randle drives to the basket against Fullerton's Kwame...

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Anthony Brown fights for a loose ball against Fullerton's James Douglas in the first period. The Stanford men's basketball team played the Fullerton Titans at Maples Pavilion in Stanford, Calif., on Monday, November 12, 2012.

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle

Anthony Brown fights for a loose ball against Fullerton's James...

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Guard Chasson Randle, who led Stanford with 24 points, puts up a shot in the first half.

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle

Guard Chasson Randle, who led Stanford with 24 points, puts up a...

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Fullerton's James "Deuce" Johnson reacts to being called for a foul in the first period. The Stanford men's basketball team played the Fullerton Titans at Maples Pavilion in Stanford, Calif., on Monday, November 12, 2012. Stanford won 81-68

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle

Fullerton's James "Deuce" Johnson reacts to being called for a foul...

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Dwight Powell pulls down a rebound in the second period. The Stanford men's basketball team played the Fullerton Titans at Maples Pavilion in Stanford, Calif., on Monday, November 12, 2012. Stanford won 81-68

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle

Dwight Powell pulls down a rebound in the second period. The...

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Stanford head coach Johnny Dawkins gestures to his players in the second period. The Stanford men's basketball team played the Fullerton Titans at Maples Pavilion in Stanford, Calif., on Monday, November 12, 2012. Stanford won 81-68

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle

Stanford head coach Johnny Dawkins gestures to his players in the...

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Assistant coach Mark Madsen reacts as a call goes in the Cardinal's favor in the second period. The Stanford men's basketball team played the Fullerton Titans at Maples Pavilion in Stanford, Calif., on Monday, November 12, 2012. Stanford won 81-68

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle

Assistant coach Mark Madsen reacts as a call goes in the Cardinal's...

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Dwight Powell puts up a shot in the second period. The Stanford men's basketball team played the Fullerton Titans at Maples Pavilion in Stanford, Calif., on Monday, November 12, 2012. Stanford won 81-68

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle

Dwight Powell puts up a shot in the second period. The Stanford...

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Fullerton's interim head coach, Andy Newman, gestures to his players in the second period. The Stanford men's basketball team played the Fullerton Titans at Maples Pavilion in Stanford, Calif., on Monday, November 12, 2012. Stanford won 81-68

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle

Fullerton's interim head coach, Andy Newman, gestures to his...

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The Stanford bench reacts in the second period. The Stanford men's basketball team played the Fullerton Titans at Maples Pavilion in Stanford, Calif., on Monday, November 12, 2012. Stanford won 81-68

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle

The Stanford bench reacts in the second period. The Stanford men's...

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Aaron Bright drives the ball past Fullerton's Kwame Vaughn in the first period. The Stanford men's basketball team played the Fullerton Titans at Maples Pavilion in Stanford, Calif., on Monday, November 12, 2012. Stanford won 81-68

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle

Aaron Bright drives the ball past Fullerton's Kwame Vaughn in the...

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Stanford's Christian Sanders dives for a loose ball as Fullerton's D. J. Seeley tries to get it in the first period. The Stanford men's basketball team played the Fullerton Titans at Maples Pavilion in Stanford, Calif., on Monday, November 12, 2012.

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle

Stanford's Christian Sanders dives for a loose ball as Fullerton's...

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Aaron Bright reacts to being fouled as he made a basket in the second period. The Stanford men's basketball team played the Fullerton Titans at Maples Pavilion in Stanford, Calif., on Monday, November 12, 2012. Stanford won 81-68

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle

Aaron Bright reacts to being fouled as he made a basket in the...

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The Stanford bench reacts to Aaron Bright being fouled as he made a basket in the second period. The Stanford men's basketball team played the Fullerton Titans at Maples Pavilion in Stanford, Calif., on Monday, November 12, 2012. Stanford won 81-68

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle

The Stanford bench reacts to Aaron Bright being fouled as he made a...

Down 48-46, Stanford scored 10 straight points, six of them by Bright, the 5-foot-11 guard who gave the Titans fits with his drives.

As Stanford wore down the Titans, Sanders sank his first collegiate basket on a drive, hit another basket from the outside and contributed a no-look pass to set up Josh Huestis' three-point play. A Huestis dunk made it 67-54 with eight minutes left. The lead reached 79-55 before a late Titans spurt closed the gap.

"I thought our guys did a good job defensively, even in the first half," head coach Johnny Dawkins said. "We tried to make them take some difficult shots. They made some tough shots. They have very good guards, and it showed."

In a foul-filled first half, Stanford jumped out to a 23-15 lead, paced by six points from Powell. The Titans responded by scoring eight straight points to forge a 23-23 tie.

Assistant coach Julius Hicks guided the Titans while interim head coach Andy Newman sits out a two-game suspension for secondary NCAA rules violations. Newman took over the program in June when Bob Burton resigned after nine seasons. No explanation was given for his abrupt departure.

The Titans went 21-10 overall last season, finishing second in the Big West with a 12-4 mark. They were upset by UC Irvine in the first round of the Big West Tournament, and several players threatened to quit. Isiah Umipig, the team's third leading scorer, transferred to Seattle Pacific.